Registration number 844
Status National Historic Fleet
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Details

Function Leisure Craft
Subfunction Yacht
Location Hamble
Vessel type Cutter
Current use Private use
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No
Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Wanhill, G F, Poole
Built in 1889
Hull material Wood
Rig Gaff Cutter
Number of decks 1
Number of masts 1
Propulsion Sail
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Diesel
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam
10.39 feet (3.17m)
Depth
6.89 feet (2.10m)
Length: Overall
44.98 feet (13.72m)
Tonnage: Gross
12.00

History

THALIA is a yacht built by G F Wanhill at Poole in 1889.  Her hull is carvel, built of oak frames and she has oak and pitch pine planking with bronze fasteners.  She is cutter rigged with gaff sails.

THALIA was based in Ireland between 1891 and 1914, where there are records of her racing in the archives of the Royal Cork Yacht Club from 1891-96.  She was then based on the Thames from 1914 -1963.  In the 1960s, she sailed to Turkey and the African coast, returning in the 1970s.

A rebuild was started in the late 1980s, and she was then abandoned with no deck.  She was about to be broken up when the present owners bought her in 1993.  Her current owners continue to race her and have a list of all her owners and racing results from Cork in the 1890s, along with a few original bills of sale.

THALIA's design appears old fashioned even for 1889, but she has a centreboard from the American influence and a cut-away forefoot (in 2020 it was reported that she no longer has a centre board).

THALIA won the Centenarian of the Year award at the Classic Boat Awards 2021. 

Although this vessel is on the National Historic Fleet, we are currently lacking information on this particular vessel. If you have any information on this vessel past or present, please contact us.

Update, January 2024: Vessel for sale.


 

 

Key dates

  • 1899

    Built by G. F. Wanhill of Poole

  • 1891

    Based in Ireland

  • 1914

    Based in UK, mainly Thames area

  • 1963

    Based in Turkey and the African coast

  • 1970s

    Returned to UK, restoration commenced but abandoned, vessel scheduled for break up

  • 1993

    Purchased by present owners, restored and continued to race

Sources

Old Gaffer's Association Member's Handbook and Boat Archive, 1993
Donegan, H P F, The History of yachting in the south coast of Ireland 1720-1908
Classic Boat: Cutting it Fine, March 2002
Classic Boat: Cork 300 - Thalia set for return to world's oldest yacht club, March 2020

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

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